Network Management

1. A network tool, comprising: a detection module in a gateway for detecting devices that are part of a subnet defined for the gateway to which the devices are connected, wherein the detection module scans the subnet for address information, and wherein a selected one of the devices is a local device maintained by a personal computer to which it is connected, and wherein the local device is detected by evaluating registry information and function call information of an operating system associated with the personal computer; and a naming module that generates a unique name for the detected devices, wherein properties for the detected devices are stored in data objects organized into respective data files, and wherein removal of a particular one of the devices causes a notification to be sent and an update to be generated for network information data structures that include the data files.

2. The network tool recited in claim 1 , wherein the naming module generates a unique name for a detected member device based upon a media access control (MAC) network address or an Internet Protocol (IP) network address associated with the detected member device.

3. The network tool recited in claim 1 , further comprising a trusted device member module that provides an identification service that identifies member devices belonging to a group of member devices forming a virtual network, and provides a trusted communication service that establishes trusted communication with each of the identified member devices.

4. The network tool recited in claim 1 , wherein the data files are used to create a graphical map of a network associated with the detected devices, and wherein the map includes each of the detected devices having an associated graphical icon and a separate graphic representing connections between the detected devices.

5. The network tool of claim 1 , wherein the device detection module is configured to communicate a ping message to a plurality of addresses associated with the subnet.

6. The network tool of claim 1 , wherein a universal plug and play (UPnP) discovery protocol is used to detect the devices in the network.

7. The network tool of claim 1 , wherein the device detection module is configured to detect when a new computer running an instance of the network tool joins the network.

8. The network tool of claim 1 , wherein a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) element is provisioned to detect the devices in the network.

9. A method, comprising: scanning a subnet associated with a gateway; detecting devices that are part of the subnet, wherein a selected one of the devices is a local device maintained by a personal computer to which it is connected; detecting the local device by evaluating registry information and function call information of an operating system associated with the personal computer; and generating a unique name for the detected devices, wherein properties for the detected devices are stored in data objects organized into respective data files, and wherein removal of a particular one of the devices causes a notification to be sent and an update to be generated for network information data structures that include the data files.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: providing an identification service configured to identify particular devices belonging to a virtual network.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: designating a trust level associated with each of the detected devices.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the data files are used to create a graphical map of a network associated with the detected devices.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: communicating a ping message to a plurality of addresses associated with the subnet.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein a universal plug and play (UPnP) discovery protocol is used to detect the devices in the network.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: detecting when a new computer running an instance of the network tool joins the network.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) element is provisioned to detect the devices in the network.

17. A program logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising: scanning a subnet associated with a gateway; detecting devices that are part of the subnet, wherein a selected one of the devices is a local device maintained by a personal computer to which it is connected; detecting the local device by evaluating registry information and function call information of an operating system associated with the personal computer; and generating a unique name for the detected devices, wherein properties for the detected devices are stored in data objects organized into respective data files, and wherein removal of a particular one of the devices causes a notification to be sent and an update to be generated for network information data structures that include the data files.

18. The program logic of claim 17 , wherein the unique name is based on a media access control (MAC) network address, or an Internet Protocol (IP) network address.

19. The program logic of claim 17 , the operations comprising: designating a trust level associated with each of the devices.

20. The program logic of claim 17 , the operations comprising: communicating a ping message to a plurality of addresses associated with the subnet.